Phal kieki on spike-advice needed

[Sandy4453]

I'm hoping somebody can tell me what to do here. I've never dealt with Phal kiekis grown on spikes (only basal). I don't want to screw this up, having a kieki on a spike is a dream come true for me (even if it's store bought, like this one ). This Phal is almost large enough to be separated except I'm waiting until it grows a couple of more roots than the only 1 it has now.

Question: The entire plant has 3 spikes....one that's blooming, 1 growing on the mother plant and 1 growing from the kieki. Should I cut the kieki spike down to give it optimal conditions for growing it's potential strongest and healthiest?

Also, is there any other special care required while it's growing, ie., misting?

Thank you in advance for your help!

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[Jkelee]

Hi Sandy,
I let my babies stay on their Mommy's, UNTIL they have about 3-4" long Roots of their own.
Then I cut them off of the spikes, and mount them up!!
I have 5 babies now, that came off they're Mommy's. And only about 8-9 months on their own, mounted.
And 3 of them are in spike already!

[brush]

I myself had the pleasure and wonder of watching the keiki,s grow . I have to agree that you should wait until the roots are 3-4 inches before cutting off the mother plant . It is so hard to cut off the spikes of one of your orchids because chances are maybe it has not bloomed in awhile . So I won't tell you to cut them off . It does make sense though the plant is trying to flower and also growing a baby . That takes a lot of energy for the mother plant , it will put most energy towards the flower. But if you were to cut the spikes off , you probably would get a stronger plant . If your plant is a healthy looking specimen and you think that it would survive the flowering and the mothering , I would just leave them to do what they do.

[jkofferdahl]

First, congratulations! Keikis are wonderful gifts from our plants.

I'm going a third direction (in the third response). I'd leave the spikes on the Mother but cut the spike from the keiki. Each spike takes about the same amount of energy to develop as does a leaf. That's fine as the Mother is nice and healthy. But the keiki needs the energy for roots and leaves right now, which are going to be a secondary thing while it tries to spike.

As others have said, it needs enough root to survive on its own. 3-4 inches is a minimum. Letting it get a little more is fine.

[Sandy4453]

Thanks Jackie, brush and jkofferdahl.

Originally Posted by jkofferdahl

But the keiki needs the energy for roots and leaves right now, which are going to be a secondary thing while it tries to spike.

I've been very tempted to cut the spike for these reasons, jkofferdah. I'm not at all reluctant in cutting it off and I'm getting braver now after reading this, that I should probably get the scissors ready. That one root is not enough and hopefully will begin growing more, quicker without that spike. If this weren't my first kieki off a spike, I might do what brush suggested and just let mother nature do it's thing but since it's taken me forever to get this kieki, I believe intervention is what's needed, here.

Thanks again!

[quiltergal]

I agree with JK, cut the Keiki spike and leave the rest alone.

[trinimom]

Ooooh thanks .. I have learnt some here really and I too was amazed at the keiki as I was not sure how phals propogate because my dens just give new plants all the time , so many keikis and they also bloom as well.... suppose tropics are ideal for dens..
Thanks again.....

[BikerDoc5968]

I've always read and used the "Rule of 3". That is 3 roots 3" long. I always make sure the ends of the roots look like they are "growing". For now I would continue misting and just leave well enough alone...

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[trinimom]

Thanks so much.....

[Phalguy]

I do follow the rules of 3 but a bit different:

3 leaves, 3 roots of 3 inch long

Claude